Morning crept in, pale and soft, but Lucia barely noticed. She sat on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Sleep had evaded her, and the weight of last night's events sat heavy in her chest.
Dante's threat. Kain's evasive answers. Their argument had left her feeling even more lost than before. She couldn't shake the nagging thought—was she a pawn in a game she didn't even understand?
The sharp knock on her door startled her. Before she could answer, Kain pushed it open. He filled the doorway, his broad frame blocking out the light from the hall.
"Get dressed," he said without preamble. "We're leaving in thirty minutes."
Lucia blinked at him, confused. "Leaving? For where?"
"You're meeting the pack today."
The words hit her like a bucket of cold water. "The pack? As in your pack?"
Kain's expression was unreadable, his dark eyes giving nothing away. "It's time," he said, his voice firm but low, like he was bracing her for something.
Lucia wanted to argue, to demand answers about last night, but the tension in his jaw told her it wouldn't get her anywhere. So she bit back her questions and nodded, even as a knot of unease twisted in her stomach.
An hour later, they rode through the dense forest on horseback. The path was narrow and winding, the tall trees crowding them on either side. Lucia gripped the reins tightly, her palms damp.
Kain rode ahead of her, his broad shoulders stiff. He hadn't spoken much since they'd left, and the silence between them felt heavier than the morning mist.
"Are they going to like me?" she finally asked, her voice cutting through the quiet.
Kain didn't turn around. "It doesn't matter if they do."
"That's comforting," she muttered under her breath, but he didn't respond.
As they continued deeper into the woods, the trees began to thin. Sunlight broke through the canopy, spilling onto a clearing up ahead.
At the center of the clearing stood a massive lodge, its timber and stone construction blending into the natural surroundings. The building was impressive, almost regal, with its sloping roof and wide wooden doors.
Lucia's heart pounded as they approached. Movement caught her eye—figures emerging from the shadows of the lodge and the nearby trees. They came in pairs and groups, their strides confident and fluid, their gazes sharp.
Kain dismounted first, then turned to help her down. His hand was firm and warm as it closed around hers, but the moment her boots touched the ground, she felt the weight of dozens of eyes on her.
The pack members surrounded them, their expressions ranging from curiosity to open skepticism. They were tall, strong, and carried themselves with a quiet but unmistakable power.
Kain stepped forward, his voice cutting through the growing whispers. "This is Lucia Armand," he said, his tone commanding. "She's under my protection. Treat her as one of us."
The murmurs rose again, though this time, they were softer. A man with sandy blond hair and a faint scar down his jaw stepped forward, nodding. "If you vouch for her, Alpha, we'll respect it."
Lucia's chest tightened, her nerves prickling under their scrutiny.
But not everyone seemed willing to accept her so easily.
From the lodge's wide doorway, a woman stepped into view. Her auburn hair gleamed in the sunlight, cascading over her shoulders like liquid fire. Her sharp green eyes locked onto Lucia with an intensity that made her skin crawl.
The woman's lips curved into a smile, but there was no warmth in it.
"Lucia, is it?" she said, her voice smooth and controlled, like she was testing the name on her tongue.
Lucia nodded stiffly, unsure of what to say.
"I'm Clara," the woman continued, her gaze sweeping over her in a way that felt almost predatory. "I've heard... a lot about you."
There was a weight to her words that made Lucia's stomach twist. Before she could respond, Kain stepped between them.
"That's enough, Clara," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Clara's smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened. "Oh, I'm just being friendly," she said lightly, though her eyes were locked on Lucia's. "It's not every day we welcome someone new into the pack. Especially someone so..." Her gaze flicked up and down, pointedly. "...delicate."
Lucia's cheeks burned. Her fists clenched at her sides, but before she could fire back, Kain's hand brushed against her arm—a subtle warning.
"Lucia's strength isn't for you to judge," Kain said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble. "If anyone has a problem with her, they'll answer me."
The pack fell silent, the weight of Kain's authority settling over them like a heavy blanket. Clara held his gaze for a long moment before finally turning away with a shrug.
"If you say so, Alpha." Her tone was light, but the smirk on her face said she wasn't done.
Inside the lodge, the tension followed them. The massive fireplace crackled in the center of the main hall, its warmth doing little to ease the chill that had settled over Lucia.
The interior was grand yet rustic, with long wooden tables and high-beamed ceilings. Pack members moved about, their eyes occasionally flicking toward her. Some whispered to each other, their voices too low for her to hear, but she could feel their judgment in every glance.
Lucia walked beside Kain, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Is this how it's going to be?" she asked under her breath.
"They'll come around," Kain said, though his tone didn't sound particularly convincing.
"And Clara?"
Kain's jaw tightened. "Ignore her."
Lucia let out a bitter laugh. "Sure. That'll be easy."
Kain stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His dark eyes burned with a frustration that matched her own. "I brought you here to protect you," he said, his voice low but firm. "Not to make friends."
Lucia glared at him, her anger bubbling over. "Protect me from what, Kain? You keep saying that, but you never explain. Am I supposed to just blindly trust you?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
Her breath caught in her throat, his unwavering gaze cutting straight through her.
"What if I can't?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kain took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "Then you'll have to learn. Because trust isn't optional, Lucia. Not here."
For a moment, they stood there, the air between them thick with tension. But Lucia wasn't ready to back down. Not this time.
"If you want my trust," she said, her voice trembling but steady, "then stop keeping me in the dark. Tell me the truth, Kain. About Dante. About why you really brought me here. About everything."
His silence was deafening.
Lucia's chest tightened, a mix of anger and disappointment flooding her. "That's what I thought," she said, stepping back. "Maybe you're not as different from Dante as you want me to believe."
Kain's eyes flashed, his jaw clenching hard enough to crack. "Be careful, Lucia," he warned, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it.
But she didn't flinch. "Maybe it's you who should be careful," she said, her voice steady now. "Because I'm not someone you can control."
Kain's fists curled at his sides, his frustration palpable. But before either of them could say another word, the heavy wooden door to the lodge swung open with a loud creak.
A pack member rushed in, his face pale and his breath labored. "Alpha," he said urgently, his eyes darting between Kain and Lucia. "We have a problem."
Kain's attention snapped to the man, his expression immediately hardening. "What kind of problem?"
The pack member hesitated, glancing at Lucia before answering. "It's... Dante. He's here."
The room seemed to freeze.
Kain's eyes darkened, and his voice was a growl. "Where?"
The man swallowed hard. "At the border. He's demanding to speak with you."
Lucia's heart pounded in her chest as Kain turned to her, his expression a mix of anger and something else—something dangerous.
"Stay here," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
But Lucia didn't answer. She wasn't sure she could, even if she wanted to.